Anionic Te-Substitution Boosting the Reversible Redox in CuS Nanosheet Cathodes for Magnesium Storage.

The conversion-type copper chalcogenide cathode materials hold great promise for realizing the competitive advantages of rechargeable magnesium batteries among next-generation energy storage technologies; yet, they suffer from sluggish kinetics and low redox reversibility due to large Coulombic resistance and ionic polarization of Mg ions. Here we present an anionic Te-substitution strategy to promote the reversible Cu/Cu redox reaction in Te-substituted CuSTe nanosheet cathodes. X-ray absorption fine structure analysis demonstrates that Te dopants occupy the anionic sites of sulfur atoms and result in an improved oxidation state of the Cu species. The kinetically favored CuSTe ( = 0.04) nanosheets deliver a specific capacity of 446 mAh g under a 20 mA g current density and a good long-life cycling stability upon 1500 repeated cycles with a capacity decay rate of 0.0345% per cycle at 1 A g. Furthermore, the CuSTe ( = 0.04) nanosheets can also exhibit an enhanced rate capability with a reversible specific capacity of 100 mAh g even under a high current density of 1 A g. All the obtained electrochemical characteristics of CuSTe nanosheets significantly exceed those of pristine CuS nanosheets, which can contribute to the improved redox reversibility and favorable kinetics of CuSTe nanosheets. Therefore, anionic Te-substitution demonstrates a route for purposeful cathode chemistry regulation in rechargeable magnesium batteries.